Browning Hi Power or Glock 19?

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
21

Best advice in the thread.

Unless finances will absolutely keep you from just acquiring a more “practical” carry piece, hang on to that HP. While I appreciate the valid, practical advice given, it’s the classic, but “impractical” guns I sold years ago, that I miss most, and they are the hardest and most expensive to replace.

I got bored shooting Bullseye, so I sold my wadcutter guns, (model 52, Colt NM, Clark Longslide) to get more into IPSC. I never could shoot Colt revolvers well, so I sold my Pythons and Diamondbacks for $250-400 each to fund PPC guns. WWII 1911’s were cheap, might as well get rid of most of the ones I bought for $200-300 each. 03’s, carbines, and Garands were a dime a dozen, so I sold my small collection off, when they went up to “astronomical” prices of $500-600 bucks each.

I tell myself inflation has just made those old guns seem like they were so cheap, but I still enjoy the ones I kept from those days, a lot more than the ones I’m reacquiring at today’s prices.

22

I would keep the Hi-Power in the safe. I have had a 9mm Practical for probably 17 years. Replaced the firing pin spring and the recoil spring. I HAVE found that the pistol is extremely magazine sensitive, and I’ve had to ditch the original two.

I would NEVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER carry the Browning Hi-Power.

One, the gun is just not as reliable as the Glock 17 or 19 (Gen 3, of course).

Two, I’m sure you’ve shot 200-300 rounds through it, but have you ever shot 200-300 rounds through it in ONE range trip? Mine turns my hand into hamburger. Just shreds my ass … hammer, slide … doesn’t matter. In my opinion, there is just no good, comfortable way to shoot this gun over a long period of time without radical modifications. That has been my experience.

Three, the manual safety sucks. It just kind of ROOOOLLS over into safe and off safe. It ain’t a 1911-type operation. Plus, if you ride it during firing like a 1911, your hand WILL be mincemeat.

Four, the gun is just shaped weird. Huge grip. Narrow slide. Very top heavy when you’re carrying it muzzle-down IWB or OWB. Just awkward.

That said, the gun is scary accurate, bone-stock, with fixed sights. I can offhand 3" groups in a headbox at 25 yards, and I’m just okay. The accuracy is not a fair trade-off for the hassle.

Like many, I’ve shot since I was a little boy. When I was introduced to Glocks, I hated them. I was raised on 1911’s and Hi-Powers.

WHEN YOU LEARN TO RUN A GLOCK, YOU WON’T EVER WANT ANYTHING ELSE AGAIN.

Give the 17 a chance and really get after it. That’s my $0.02.

23

Im not sentimental, when it comes to pistols, so i wouldn’t hesitate to sell the HP and get a G19. I have sold all my Sig’s, HK’s & 1911’s. Glock’s are pretty much it, for serious use, imo.

24

For me, firearms are tools–if a better tool comes along, I switch. A 9 mm Glock is a more reliable, durable, and easier maintained tool to defend my life than an HP. Period.

duece71–In addition to a ubiquitous hand held SF light, I run an x300 on the pistol if I am spending a lot of time in darkness or dim lit locations. Otherwise for routine urban/suburban self-defense I carry the pistol slick and just work with the hand held light.

CCW holsters that have worked best for me include:

IWB/AIWB–Fricke Archangel/Seraphim, CCC Looper, RCS Phantom, Milt Sparks Heritage #1.
OWB–Fricke Gideon Elite, RCS Phantom, Comp-tac belt holster, Safariland 6377, Alessi DOJ open port, Kramer vertical scabbard.

Keep in mind you will have to try a few before you find what works for your body shape and sartorial style.

My Glocks get the following:

– Better sights: For irons usually Trijicon HD, Warren, or Ameriglo 3-dot with bright green front and dim yellow back, although recently I’ve been using a RMR02 with suppressor height BIS.

– Vickers mag catch

– Vickers slide release

– Scherer “slug” butt plug

– Stipple frame

– Glock “-” connector with stock trigger return spring

– Glock smooth trigger if not OEM installed (typically needs replacement on G19’s)

– Maritime spring cups if any use around water is anticipated

– Grip Force Adapters, especially on G17’s.

One last thing, for years I have preferred the G19’s versatility over the G17; however, in terms of pure shootability the G17 is a better pistol.

25

I humbly disagree, my friend. :slight_smile:

I used to use exclusively G17s. I changed, and now I shoot better.

The smaller size lends itself to better control, IMHO.

26

I gotta agree with the Doc.

The 17 starts to leave the 19 behind when you get beyond 15 yards. The 17 is a tad more controable and fits my hand better.

The 19 is more concealable and almost as functional as the 17.

Were I carrying externally on a pistol belt, I would take the 17 every time however.

27

Since the Pat McNamara class this summer (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=84232), I have been doing a lot of 25-50 yd bullseye shooting, as well as fast shot strings up close. At first I thought the G19 and G17 were nearly equal in accuracy and ease of shooting, but in aggregate my G19 scores and times have consistently been about 5-10% below those when I shoot a G17. This didn’t make a lot of sense to me, since I am running RDS’s and sight radius is not an issue, not to mention I have a lot more rounds downrange out of G19’s. During the Defoor class last month (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=88982) I asked Kyle about this, he stated that this mirrors his personal experience and what he has observed while training thousands of students–the G19 typically scores about 10-15% less than the G17 when shooting for accuracy and time. It is not just sight radius, since even with the GFA, the grip shape is subtly different between the two pistols. In addition, the recoil impulse is not the same.

28

I get the rest, but why the butt plug?

29

So lemme get this straight… you shoot better and faster with the G17 than with the G19? Or is it the other way around?

Okie John

30

Okie John–In general, the G17 has a slightly faster time and better score.

titsonritz–Keeps out debris and aids reloading.

31

I thought that’s what you meant. Thanks.

Okie John

32

If it were me, I’d do ^This^ Doc gives good advice.

“The mission drives the gear train”. What is the mission of your HP?

If it’s just an old school cool gun that you own and shoot sometimes for fun, nothing wrong with that, if you can afford to keep it and still get the gear you need to cover your carry and training needs.

Good leather makes a huge difference in how much pistol you can carry. I’m 6’2" and about 250lbs, I can carry a G17 IWB while wearing cargo shorts and a T-shirt during the summer, with only minimal worries about printing.
With the same carry mode and dress my G19 positively disappears, so much so that gun guys who know me think something is really wrong because they think I have left the house unarmed.

I consider the HP to be in the same catagory as the 1911, nice to have, doesn’t fit my needs though.

The Glocks are more durable, more reliable, far more rust proof for the most part, and cheaper to keep running in the long term.

33

DocGKR, wonder if you could expand on the rmr. Has presbyopia set in. Do you wear contacts or are the oakley’s prescription. Or is this something your evaluating vs. irons. Thanks for this and also all the great info you post. BWW

34

As others have said, if you are not required to use the HP, then there are far better options for a defensive pistol. If the HP is a collector’s piece, then by all means keep it if you like and make it a safe queen which only stretches her legs on special occasions.

Many officers are bound by the limitations placed on them by their agency. For instance, I am required to carry Sigs, so I make the most of a mediocre situation. Glock, M&P, or HK would be superior choices that I would jump on if I were given the green light.

35

I have both. They each have their own purpose.I love both of them. HP is a open carry holster gun. 19 CCW. If the grip is a little small, slip on a Hogue grip, helped me with my 19.

36

If you already have the Glock 17, owning a Glock 19 makes a lot of sense. (One full size, one compact/CCW) The training, magazine, and parts commonality is a great way to go.

My practice with the G17 translates well to smaller sized Glocks, and I would agree with those saying that the G17 holds an edge in pure shoot-ability. However, the size difference is significant if you are trying to conceal in certain clothing. The Glock compacts are a pretty good compromise overall.

37

BWW–As noted in the third post here: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=19887:

“There has recently been quite a bit of interest in mounting mini RDS on duty and CCW handgun slides…Over the past 18 months we have been experimenting with small slide mounted RDS and find they can be quite useful…If I still had perfect vision, I might consider staying with iron sights due to the speed advantage; however, given the vision changes following my bicycle accident induced basilar skull fracture 2 years ago, as well as the onset of middle-age presbyopia, I personally NEVER want to go back to irons.”

38

All,
Thank you again for all of your responses. You have been a great help and this website is excellent for that.
I think at this point in time, I am going to keep the HP and buy the G19 anyway. Warpedcamshaft said some good stuff, I already have a G17, a G19 would be an excellent complement and the commonality works for me.
DocGKR, thank you for all of your advise and some very nice Glocks you have! I will try out some holsters for the G17 without the light and try some holsters for the G19 when I finally get it.
I am looking for a nice CCW pistol and I feel that the G19 definately fits that bill.

39

Of the 2 Glocks, did you do the frame grip enhancements yourself?? Thank you for elaborating on the “extras” that are on each Glock, something for me to ponder for another day.

40

Simple soldering iron and an hour of my time to stipple.

Just purchase G17 holsters for both pistols, as they are more versatile and will work for both your G17, as well as your G19 without any problems…